“Youth and Culture of Peace”

International Training Course
“Youth and Culture of Peace”

26.08-03.09.2019
Poitiers, France

 

Summary:

While the European Union was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for its actions in favor of “peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”, many cities in Old Continent have been marked by an upsurge of discriminatory violence and a tendency to fall back and reject the “other”.

Examples of violence in Europe include hate speech against Roma, sexual assault, attacks on refugee centers, anti-Semitic violence, attacks on LGBTI people, stigmatization of Muslims, etc.

This is so alarming that the European Commission, via its Commissioner Vera Jourova, said in 2016 that “the current situation is an unprecedented societal challenge for Europe”.

Such violence not only threatens the lives of those directly affected and their families, but also represents a significant risk to peaceful coexistence, social cohesion and equality.

It is clear that peace is a social construct necessary to the harmonious life within a society but not innate in the human being. Indeed, conflict is inherent in human existence because of diversities of all kinds (cultural, political, economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, etc.). The expression “culture of peace” therefore presupposes that peace is a way of being, doing and living in society that is learned, developed and, above all, cultivated. The education of everyone, especially young people who represent the future of our societies, is therefore essential.

It is in response to these issues and needs and in the general objective of contributing to peace and social cohesion that our “Youth and Culture of Peace” project has sprung up. This European training aims to bring together, from 26 August to 03 September 2019 in POITIERS, 25 youth workers from 8 European countries to strengthen their skills in supporting their young audiences towards a culture of peace.

More specifically, the training has the following direct objectives:

– to introduce youth worker participants to the concept of a culture of peace and its challenges, in particular by putting them in a situation

– to develop their skills in the peaceful management of conflicts because the aim of the culture of peace is not to suppress conflicts at all costs, but to find ways to resolve them without violence.

– to give them an intercultural experience, one of the pillars of the culture of peace by working on the prejudices and the acceptance of the other

– promote the exchange of experiences, tools and practices

– to equip them to approach this with their groups and set up peace education actions.

– increase the visibility of the Erasmus + program as a tool to develop projects on this theme or to reinforce its own experiences promoting a culture of peace.

Indirectly, by training youth workers, it is their target groups that we want to reach with the aim of developing among them important skills in the culture of peace.

Participant`s profile required:

1. The activity is open for 3 youth leaders, project managers and voluntary and professional youth workers, working directly on the topic or having a strong interest in it
2. Participants are expected to be part of the full duration of the activity
3. Be aware that this activity will be in English.
4. Participants should be over 18 y.o. and no upper age limit.

Venue:

The training course will take place in Poitiers. Further information about the venue will be shared with the selected participants.

Working methods:

All the training will be done through the methods of non-formal education. The activities will be for example brain storming’s, plenary discussions, simulations, role plays, team building, energizers, ice breakers and many others. Non formal education we remember you that is voluntary, no hierarchical and all its methods are based on the concept of learning by doing.

What to bring with me:

• we will have an intercultural evening, so bring your national food and drink.
• bring your national flag, magazines, postcards what will help you to introduce your country.
• if you bring your laptop will be easier for working, but is not mandatory.
• and your good mood. This is the most important ☺

Intercultural night:

What we expect from you to present in these nights are: local or national dances, local music, games, little sweets, drinks, pictures, etc. from your countries.
Every country will prepare a short presentation of their culture, using all kinds of methods. It’s preferred a short and FUNNY presentation, such as showing pictures and commenting it, quiz, short video (either already existing or made by you), etc. (YES – use your creativity!). For the intercultural night, we ask you to prepare in advance a brief performance (singing, your traditional music, popular dances) to present your group (typical costumes are really welcomed!).
The main idea of this presentation is: What is important for a stranger to know about my country?
Any kind of presentation is granted, better not to do a power-point presentation to avoid yawning.
The Intercultural night is the “most wanted event” on the beginning of the youth exchange. It is a sort of traditional night opened to all participant audience made up of our group leaders, youth workers, facilitators, participants to the exchange. All National groups are asked to perform briefly (10 for your NGO and country/city not more, and 10 min for traditional dances and music) in order to introduce their self. Certainly, we need your enthusiasm and energy!!
For the Intercultural evening a Swedish buffet (cold buffet) will be organized. Here every country will bring traditional food dishes. The food that will be brought must be eatable without any processing (boiling, frying, etc). The dishes must also be accompanied by a brief description (their origin and ingredients, the way they are eaten…)

Travel Costs:

100% of the participants‘ travel costs will be reimbursed within the valid budget sums calculated according to the official rules of Erasmus+ programme. If a sum exceeds the limit, the excess will be paid by the participants themselves. The reimbursement limit is 275€ per participant from Bulgaria.

Financial support:

Project is supported by “Erasmus+” program. Accommodation, meals, program and travel cost (based on distance) are covered from grant. There is NO participation fee! However, 15 BGN will be deducted from the guarantee of 100 BGN which every participant must send prior the departure, in order to be covered the different taxes, related to the participation of each representative from Bulgaria (bank transfer fees, post expenses, difference in the exchange rates, etc.). This guarantee will be reimbursed after completing all the dissemination activities, the participant is required to conduct after returning to Bulgaria.

Insurance:

The travel insurance is not mandatory but it is highly reccommended. It costs 1 BGN/day and covers all the common injuries during projects up to 5000 Euro. Our organization is not covering insurance, it is individual, but we are going to support you to obtain a proper insurance for the duration of the project. For more information about the insurance, contact us.

YouthPass:

Every participant is individually entitled to receive a Youthpass Certificate, which confirms participation and validates the non-formal learning (NFL) experience of Training course project. Validating the learning experiences of participants is important in itself and the document can be of benefit in terms of the educational or employment future of the participant. Through Youthpass the European Commission ensures the Training course activity is recognized as a non-formal learning experience.
(*For more information on Youthpass you may click on this page to check it online)

Applicants MUST:

1. Read carefully the Terms and Conditions you are agreeing with, when sending your application!
2. Read carefully the Privacy Policy page.
3. Have a valid ID/International passport.
4. Possess valid European Health Card.
5. Fill in the application form and send it to: stanimir.chukov@gmail.com – APPLICATION FORM
6. Check the conditions your participation will be evaluated – Final evaluation form

IMPORTANT!!!
In the title of the e-mail, write down the name of the project.
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